Collapsible and portable cabana



Oct. 15, 1968 .1. E. CROSIER ET AL 3,405,721

CQLLAPSIBLE AND PORTABLE CABANA Filed Sept. 26, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTORS. JAMES E. CROSIER JON A. BLANCHE'TTE BY ROBERT E ROMANOWSK/ ATTORNEY J. E. CROSIER ET AL COLLAPSIBLE AND PORTABLE CABANA Oct. 15,1968 Filed Sept. 26, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTOIM/E Y INVENTORS. JAMESE CROS/E'R JON/l. BLANCHETTE ROBERT E ROMANOWSK/ United States Patent3,405,721 *COLLAPSIBLE AND PORTABLE CABANA James E. Crosier, Rochester,Jon A. Blanchette, Fairport,

and Robert F. Romanowski, Rochester, N.Y., assignors,

by mesne assignments, to R. J. Sporting Inc., Rochester,

N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 26, 1966, Ser. No. 582,043 6Claims. (Cl. 135-7.1)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The cabana comprises U-shaped frame memberswhose legs are connected at their extremities to pivot about a commonaxis between a collapsed position, and an erected position in which thetwo outer members are angularly spaced about said axis slightly greaterthan 90 from one another. The two legs of each frame member are foldableabout spaced axes that extend at right angles to the firstnamed axis;and two collapsible links extend between the legs of adjacent framemembers rigidly to hold the members in their erected positions.

This invention relates to portable shelters and more particularly to aportable cabana or beach shelter.

Heretofore efforts have been made to provide a portable, collapsiblebeach cabana which could serve as a satisfactory shelter from the sun,wind and rain. A major disadvantage of prior, collapsible cabanas of thetype described, is that each usually includes a cumbersome frame forsupporting the cabana in its erected position. Moreover, even whencollapsed, such a cabana has an overall bulk so great that it cannot beconveniently transported or stored.

One object of this invention is to provide a lightweight, portableshelter, which is relatively inexpensive, and substantially easier tomanufacture than prior, like shelters.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved portablecabana having a collapsible frame, which is extremely simple and easy tomanipulate in order either to erect or collapse the cabana.

An additional object of this invention is to provide an improved cabanawhich can be collapsed into a relatively small, compact form, and whichcan be easily carried about or stored.

Another object of this invention is to provide a collapsible cabana, anda flexible container therefor in which the cabana may be stored when notin use, and which may be used to help anchor the cabana when the latteris erected.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinafter from thespecification and from the recital of the appended claims, particularlywhen read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of a collapsible cabana made in accordancewith one embodiment of this inven tion, the cabana being illustrated inits erected position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational View of the collapsible frame, which formspart of the cabana, the frame being illustrated in its erected position;

FIG. 3 is a slightly enlarged side elevational view similar to FIG. 2,but showing the frame partially collapsed;

FIG. 4 is a slightly enlarged plan view of this frame showing it in itscompletely collapsed position; and

FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along theline 55 in FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

The shelter or cabana disclosed herein comprises a flexible, waterproofcover, which is secured to a collapsi- "ice ble frame constructed oflight-weight, tubular aluminum. Three, similar, generally U-shaped framemembers are pivotally connected to one another at their free ends formovement about a common horizontal axis between collapsed positions inwhich they are disposed in registry with one another, and erectedposition in which collapsible links between the members hold the latterreleasably in equi-angularly spaced positions about the commonhorizontal axis. When the cabana is erected, one of the outer framemembers is disposed horizontally on the ground, and the other outermember is inclined diagonally upwardly and forwardly at an obtuse angleto the horizontal member. The flexible cover is stretched tautly at thistime over the erected frame members; and the entrance to the cabana isframed by the outer member that extends diagonally upwardly.

When the cabana is collapsed, the legs of its U-shaped members foldinwardly toward one another about a further pair of spaced, parallelaxes, which extend at right angles to the horizontal pivotal axis of themembers, so that the folded legs overlap one another and the central,transverse sections of each frame member.

Referring now to the drawings by numerals of reference, the frame 10 ofthe cabana comprises three, generally U-shaped members 12, 13 and 14.Each member 12, 13, and 14 comprises a tubular cross bar 16, 17 and 18,respectively, and a pair of spaced, parallel tubular legs 20, 21 and 22,respectively, which are pivotally connected to opposite ends of theirrespective cross bars by pins or rivets 24. Opposite ends of each crossbar 16, 17 and 18 are stamped or pressed closed as at 26 (FIG. 5) toform thereon semi-circular projections, which, when the cabana iserected, are disposed in shaped relation to like projections 27 formedon the adjacent, inner ends of the associated legs 20, 21 and 22.Secured by each pin 24 in the confronting, semi-circular recesses formedbetween each pair of projections 26 and 27, are two, semi-cylindrical,plastic plugs or bearings 28 and 29, which have sliding contact with oneanother when the legs 20, 21 and 22 are pivoted relative to their crossbars 16, 17 and 18.

The frame members 12, 13 and 14 are mounted for pi'votal movementrelative to one another about rivets or pins 31, which pivotally connecttogether the free or outer ends of the legs 20, 21 and 22 at oppositesides, respectively, of the frame 10. These pins 31 are disposed inlaterally spaced, coaxial relation with one another when the frame 10 iserected as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The intermediate frame member13 is collapsibly supported in a diagonal plane, which is equiangularlyspaced between the outer frame members 12 and 14, by a pair of tubular,collapsible links 33 a pair of tubular collapsible links 34, each ofwhich is connected at one end to a bracket 36 that is secured to eachleg 21 of member 13 adjacent opposite ends of the cross bar 17. Theopposite ends of the links 33 and 34 are pivotally connected to brackets37 and 38, respectively, which are secured on the frame legs 20 and 22,respectively, adjacent opposite ends of the cross bars 16 and 18. Thetwo tubular sections of each collapsible link 33 and 34 are pivotallyconnected at their inner ends to opposite ends of U-shaped hinge plates39 and 40, respectively.

Each of two, conventional, collapsible braces 42 is pivotally connectedat one end to one end of the cross bar 16 of frame 12, and at itsopposite end to one of the legs 20 adjacent the associated bracket 37.Each of two further collapsible braces 44, which are similar to braces42, is pivotally connected at one end thereof to one end of the crossbar 18 of the frame member 14, and at its opposite end to one of thelegs 22 adjacent the associated braoket 38. Each of these braces 42 and44 is similar to those employed on certain conventional cardtables ofthe type having foldable legs, and comprises two separate sectionshaving overlapping inner ends that are pivotally connected to oneanother so as releasa-bly to hold the legs 20 and 22 of the associatedframe members 12 and 14 in spaced, parallel relation to one another,when the cabana is erected as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Secured at opposite ends thereof to the cross bars 16 and 18 to extendtautly between these bars, and over the bar 17, when the cabana iserected as illustrated in FIG. 1, is a flexible, waterproof, plasticcover 46 such as nylon, or the like. Conventional male snaps 48 aresecured to opposite ends of the cross bar sections 16, 17 and 18, and tothe outside of each leg 27 adjacent the associated pivot pin 31, so thatflexible side flaps or covers (not illustrated) may be removably securedto opposite sides of the frame by means of cooperating female snaps.

To collapse the cabana, the U-shaped plates 3? and 40, the open sides ofwhich face upwardly as shown in FIG. 2, are pulled manually downwardlyso that the frame members 12 and 13 pivot about the pins 31(counterclockwise in FIG. 2) downwardly into the collapsed positionsillustrated in FIG. 3. Each leg 20 and 22 is curved as at 50 (FIGS. 2and 3) adjacent the associated pivot pin 31 so that when the members 12,13 and 14 are collapsed, they are supported in spaced, parallelregistering relation with one another. Also at this time, thenowcollapsed links 33 and 34, and the associated plates 39 and 40,respectively, fold into the spaces provided therefor at opposite sidesof the frame between the now-parallel legs 20, 21 and 22 of thecollapsed frame members. The braces 42 and 44 are then collapsedmanually, and the superposed legs 20, 21 and 22 at opposite sides of theframe are pivoted about the pins 24 inwardly toward the undersides ofthe cross bars 16, 17 and 18 and into overlapping, folded relation toone another as illustrated in FIG. 4.

At this time the flexible cover 46, and the side flaps if used, arecollapsed, and together with the now-folded frame 10, may be enclosed orwrapped in a relatively small, rectangular canvas jacket 52 (FIG. 1).Jacket 52 has a length slightly less than the overall width of the frame10, when the latter is erected as illustrated in FIG. 1, so thatconventional lacings or ropes 53, which extend from the corners of thejacket 52, may be releasably tied to the legs 22 of the frame, when thelatter is erected as illustrated in FIG. 1. This stretches the jacket 52rather tautly between opposite sides of the frame, so that the personusing the erected cabana may sit upon the jacket 52, or pile sand or thelike on the jacket, so as to anchor the cabana to the ground.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the collapsible cabana orshelter disclosed herein is relatively simple, and inexpensive tomanufacture; is very easy to erect or collapse; and is extremely compactwhen folded. Preferably the frame members 12, 13 and 14, and the links33 and 34, are made from tubular aluminum so that the complete cabanawill weigh less than five pounds. The outer frame members 12 and 14 arepositioned, when the cabana is erected, concentrically with respect tothe intermediate frame member 13 so that the cabana may be positionedwith either the legs 20 or 22 of the frame members 12 and 14,respectively, disposed horizontally along the ground. In either of thesepositions, the center of gravity of the cabana is positioned rearwardlyof the axial centerline of the pins 31 so that the cabana will tend toremain in either of such positions, and will not roll forwardly on thecurved ends 50 of the then horizontally disposed legs 20 or 22, exceptas the result, perhaps, of a heavy gust of wind. To prevent the cabanafrom accidentally pitching forward, however, the jacket 52 may beemployed to anchor the cabana as above described. The plastic inserts 28 and 29, which surround each pin 24, pivot with the respectiveprojections 26 or 27 in which they are seated, and provide excellentbearing surfaces which contribute to the useful life of the frame.

While the invention has been described in connection with a specificembodiment thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of furthermodification, and this application is intended to cover any variations,uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, theprinciples of the invention and including such departures from thepresent disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the artto which the invention pertains and as may the applied to the essentialfeatures hereinbefore set forth, and as fall within the scope of theinvention or the limits of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. A portable shelter, comprising:

(a) a plurality of generally similar U-shaped members, each comprising across bar and a pair of spaced legs, each cross bar having its oppositeends disposed at right angles to the remainder of the cross bar, andeach leg being pivotally connected at one end to one end of theassociated cross bar to be swung from a collapsed position parallel toits cross bar to an extended position at right angles thereto and viceversa,

(b) pivots connecting the corresponding opposite ends of all said legstogether, for movement about an axis at right angles to the axis aboutwhich each leg is pivoted to its cross bar,

(c) said pivots being axially aligned whereby said members are connectedtogether for pivotal movement about a common axis between a collapsedposition and an erected position,

(d) a pair of collapsible links pivotally connected at opposite ends toeach pair of adjacent legs adjacent the points of pivotal connection ofsaid legs to their respective cross bars and operable releasably to holdsaid members in erected position, and

(e) a flexible cover removably securable to said members to extendtautly therebetween and thereover when said members are in their erectedposition.

2. A portable shelter as defined in claim 1, having collapsible bracesinterposed between each of the legs and the cross bars of certain ofsaid members, and movable manually to operative position releasably tohold said legs substantially at right angles to the cross bars of saidmembers.

3. A portable shelter as defined in claim 2, wherein:

(a) in their erected positions the outermost members are disposed atequal acute angles relative to the intermediate member about thefirst-named axis, and

(b) the center of gravity of the shelter is radially offset from saidfirst-named axis so that either of said outermost members may bedisposed horizontally when the shelter is in use.

4. A portable shelter as defined in claim 2, wherein:

(a) the collapsible links are substantially longer than said braces, and

(b) said links are operative, when said braces are in said operativepositions, releasably to hold the two outermost of said members at anobtuse angle relative to one another, said angle being slightly greaterthan and substantially less than 5. A portable shelter as defined inclaim 1, wherein:

(a) there are three said members, and

(b) the legs of the outermost members are curved slightly adjacent saidpivots to support said outermost members in spaced parallelism with theintermediate member, when said members are collapsed.

6. A portable shelter as defined in claim 5, having:

(a) releasable snap means on said cover, and

(b) cooperating snap means secured to opposite ends of said cross bars,and to the said opposite ends of the legs of at least one of saidmembers, and adapted to register with the snap means on said cover, when5 6 said members are in their erected positions, releasa- 2,832,3614/1958 Smith 1377.1 bly to secure said cover to said members. 2,910,07810/ 1959 Schunck 1357.1

2,960,993 11/1960 Holmstrom 1357.1

P FOREIGN PATENTS UNITED STATES ATENTS 5 706,186 3/1965 Canada.

1,819,490 8/1931 Weiss 135-71 1,845,814 2/1932 ReiS et a1. 135-5REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner.

References Cited

